Regents Approve New Option, Title on Communication Degree

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents today approved a new option and title on the bachelor of science in mass communication degree.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.,

March 7, 2007 – The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents today approved a new option and title on the bachelor of science in mass communication degree.

The new option and title will be “Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication – Television and Film Option.”

The new option, which takes effect in fall 2007, replaces the current video production option. The television and film option will retain classes from the video production option, but also will include courses in film-style production and broadcast journalism.

Dr. Jane Stephens, Southeast provost, said that over the past five years, about half of students entering the video production option expressed a preference for film-style classes rather than traditional video production. Several students every year inquire about a film program at Southeast, she said. Classes in film-style production, like screenwriting, film history and film directing, should attract new students to the major, she said.

Graduates will have skills that prepare them for careers in film production as well as other video-related fields.

Broadcast news is one of the main areas students express an interest in during recruiting activities, Stephens said.

The new nine-hour block will prepare students for jobs in broadcast journalism and for careers such as news director, field reporter or studio anchor. Students will learn on camera performance skills, techniques for writing broadcast news copy and in-studio news production, she said.

“There should be great opportunities for graduates in this field,” Stephens said.